Can't Run (Danger and Desire Book 1) by Caroline M. Townes Page B

completely grossed her out and even scared her now brought her nostalgic humor, she was thankful for the amusement the friendly monkeys brought her.
    Sara thought about her parents, worry panged in her stomach as she thought about whoever was after her father. Whoever he had upset must have truly despised him, and that terrified her. Her parents were good people, but, to some they likely seemed as nothing more than rich capitalists not caring about anything but making more money. They were, however, charitable people. Loving people. Her mother was a philanthropist through and through, she had never been one to be afraid to get involved and hands on. She couldn’t understand how anyone could possibly want to harm them so.
    Her facial expression must have given her away as Eric slowed his pace after looking back and seeing her.
    “You okay?” He asked, “Are you thinking about earlier?”
    “No,” she responded, “I’m pretty sure I’d be smiling if I was thinking about this morning. Why do you think that would make me look… like this?”
    He shrugged.
    “I’m thinking about my parents.” She answered instinctively.
    “They’re okay, they have so much security it would take a full military to get to them!” He reassured.
    Sara grinned, “I know, it’s just. Why would anyone want to hurt them … this badly?”
    He matched her pace to make it easier to talk.
    “They’re good people,” she explained, “They wouldn’t ever intentionally harm anyone.”
    “When it comes to business, especially business with a lot of money involved, things get complicated. It changes people you know.” His voice was soft, full of understanding.
    “I know, it’s just. I think people sometimes don’t see them as…well…people. Just as money and they are really so much more than that.” She didn’t know why she was explaining this, but he seemed to understand where she was coming from. “What about your family? I don’t know anything about them.”
    He took a deep breath, “Well,” he said, “I have one older brother and two sisters who are younger than me. My mother raised us by herself after my father died.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Sara said sympathetically, “May I ask, your father, how did he…”
    “He was in the military,” Eric explained, “When he came back from Bosnia, well, his friend who was with him there came back too and was really messed up. Had a hard time with all the shit he saw.”
    “So, one night his friend’s wife called the house. He was having some sort of breakdown and my dad went over to try to help. I guess he had a gun to his head, and well my dad tried to get the gun out of his hand and got shot. His friend turned it on himself shortly after. He succumbed to his injuries.”
    Sara’s heart broke, “Oh my god. I… I don’t even know what to say,” She began, “He sounds like he was a good man. How old were you?”
    “Ten years old.” He said solemnly, “I joined the military to feel closer to him, my mom hated it, and I didn’t stay too long. Evidently…”
    “Are you close with your mom and siblings?” She asked, absolutely curious about this man’s life.
    “My mom and sisters, very. I don’t see them as much as I should, but we talk a lot.” He said with a thoughtful smile, “My brother, not so much.”
    “Why not?” Sara asked curiously, noticing Eric’s expression she was suddenly embarrassed about how nosey she was being, “I’m sorry, I really should learn to mind my own business.”
    “It’s okay, I’m just not used to talking about this.” His voice was kind and obliging, “We just don’t see things eye to eye. He looks down on my career choices, and pretty much hates that I make as much or even more than him.”
    “Oh, what does he do?” Sara asked.
    “He’s a…” Eric didn’t complete his sentence, “Do you smell that?”
    Sara smelled the air, “Smoke?”
    They could see the blueish tint entering the air. Eric commanded her to wait